Rare missing vulture from Nepal found in India after 10 months
text_fields
Patna: A rare vulture from a critically endangered species went missing from Nepal's Tanahun district 10 months ago and was found in Bihar's Darbhanga in a weak condition.
The white-rumped vulture was listed as critically-endangered species in 2000 due to a rapidly declining population. Chief Wildlife Warden PK Gupta said they are dying out due to feeding on carcasses of animals treated with the veterinary drug diclofenac. It affects the kidneys of the vulture and if the dead animal was treated with the drug shortly before death, the vulture will die from kidney failure.
The vulture in question was last sighted 10 months ago and went missing despite being radio-tagged. It was being used for research and monitoring of the vulture safe zone by Nepalese authorities. The radio collar stopped transmitting data in April.
The rare creature was found by Bihar's bird ringing station officials. They said the bird was starving for food. They immediately provided the bird with food, medically examined it, and placed it under observation at Bird Ringing and Monitoring Station in Bhagalpur.
"The Nepalese authorities have appreciated our efforts and also shared details about his movements. It will be released after a few days," said Gupta to PTI. He added that the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Haryana's Pinjore, the Bombay Natural History Society, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in England were alerted.
